Where You Go I Go Too
Encyclopedia
Where You Go I Go Too is the first studio album by Norwegian electronica
artist Hans-Peter Lindstrøm
. It was first released in the United Kingdom on August 18, 2008 and was subsequently released the next day in the United States. The album comprises three tracks, roughly 30, 10, and 15 minutes in length. Where You Go I Go Too is usually labeled "space disco
" due to its "spacey
, psychedelic
" feel and four-to-the-floor beats.
Production of the album followed the 2006 release of It's a Feedelity Affair
, a compilation of singles. Lindstrøm had become dissatisfied with simply producing remixes and average length songs, which led to experimentation with lengthy tracks. The album received positive reviews from critics, who praised its slick production values and epic scope. At the 2009 Spellemannprisen
award ceremony in Norway, the record won the award for "best electronica album".
in 2006, Lindstrøm had become tired of producing dance remixes
and average length vocal pieces. He began giving the artists and labels mixes with slower tempos. Lindstrøm also felt he was unwisely incorporating musical ideas into remixes instead of original works, which led to experiments with lengthier tracks for an original album. Four to five tracks were originally envisioned for Where You Go I Go Too, but only three were chosen.
The title track was a time-consuming project; Lindstrøm called it a "nightmare to finish." The song comprised over 70 layers of sound and spanned almost 30 minutes. Around half the sound consisted of live performances, which Lindstrøm found difficult to merge with the electronic portions. After changing the music, he would usually listen to the entire song and evaluate the change. The repeated listens took a toll: "I needed to listen to 30 minutes of music every time I did something," said Lindstrom "So I'll never gonna do it again." Despite this, he enjoyed working with extended songs because it allowed them to evolve and move at a slow pace.
The album mixing
was delayed during spring 2008. Typically, Lindstrøm would mix the record himself, but he felt overwhelmed by the album's scope and decided to seek outside help: "I’ve kind of discovered that I’m not good at doing everything myself. The problem with involving other people is that sometimes all the progress gets slowed down, but as long as the results are good, I’m happy... Leave the post-production to somebody else."
Though a common theme was not purposefully established for the album, some journalists noted similar feelings of travel and adventure when listening to the record. Lindstrøm has recommended people listen while traveling, and believes his travels may have influenced the album: "I don't particularly like traveling, but I've realised that it's perfect for listening to whole albums... I'm sure the way I'm listening to music now ... has something to do with the music I'm writing." The song titles were left "open" so "the listener could make up his own story."
Where You Go I Go Too was released by Smalltown Supersound
on August 18, 2008 in the United Kingdom, and August 19 in the United States. A special edition
was issued on December 23, 2008. The album featured a bonus disc with edited versions of the original tracks by frequent Lindstrøm collaborator Prins Thomas
. Lindstrøm toured in Austria, Germany, Spain, and the United States that fall.
, polyrhythm
s, and melodies
. According to The Guardian
, some musical changes are pronounced, such as the introduction of a synthesizer
, while others, such as small tempo changes
, remain "almost insensible". Some critics have noted the album conjures the feeling of a journey.
The music is a collage of electronic music
, characterized by synthesized melodies, layered sounds, live performance
s, and four-to-the-floor beats. Pitchfork Media
editor Dominique Leone described it as a "seamless combination of digital production, analog synthesizers and live instrumentation." Lindstrøm has been heavily influenced by music from the 1970s
and 1980s
, particularly disco
progenitors Jean-Marc Cerrone
and Giorgio Moroder
. Where You Go I Go Too is often classified as "space disco
" due to these influences and because it possesses a "spacey
, psychedelic
" sound. Lindstrøm listened to the Beach Boys
, the Eagles, and Kirsty MacColl
while writing the album.
award for "best electronica album". The album was well received by critics and received an 82% on the aggregate website Metacritic
, which signifies "universal acclaim".
Allmusic writer K. Ross Hoffman declared the record an "entirely satisfying display" of Lindstrøm's talents and positively commented on the textured instrumentation. Hoffman concluded the music was an "expansive, exploratory journey" worth experiencing. Andy Battaglia of the The A.V. Club
disagreed, believing the album to be narrow minded and a missed opportunity to exploit the lengthy tracks and deliver more musical depth. Praise was given by Alex Macpherson of The Guardian, who stated "Every aspect of the record seems tailor-made to produce maximum pleasure [...] Where You Go I Go Too would make even the most hellish of journeys seem like a first-class trip."
Jim Brackpool of Yahoo! Music
felt audience reactions would be polarized; some would find it "sophisticated and lovingly crafted", while others might be put off by its "unabashed opulence". No Ripcord
writer Sam Draper christened the record "one of the finest pieces of music [he had] heard in years." Pitchfork Media
editor Tim Finney believed Where You Go I Go Too showed signs of a masterpiece, but also possessed "bloat, excess, and splendor" reminiscent of disco revivalists. Pitchfork named it one of the best albums of 2008.
The album's title track was received favorably. Draper displayed particular fondness for the song and was amazed the music could stay fresh for its entire length. Hoffman also spoke highly of it, stating "[It] contains only as many discernible musical ideas as your average five- to seven-minute techno track [...] but its luxurious length lets those ideas stretch out gloriously [...] allowing a slow, fluid evolution that gestures towards a cosmic infinity." Finney praised the title track for its "shimmering, strobing synthesizer melodies" and ability to expand and surprise. A favorable comparison to Kraftwerk
's similarly lengthy song "Autobahn
" was made by Jason Newman of URB.
Reviews of the other two tracks were generally positive. Brackpool wrote favorably about "Grand Ideas" and made comparisons to Vangelis
and Tangerine Dream
, while Hoffman named it the most danceable track on the album. Though Battaglia felt the song kept repeating the same chord progression, he believed the "accents and shifts in pitch" strengthened it. Jeff Rovinelli writing for Tiny Mix Tapes
thought "The Long Way Home" sounded silly. Brackpool agreed, writing "[If] isolated from the rest of the album [The Long Way Home] could easily pass for generic library music..." While Draper considered it a solid song, he decided it was a "little too saccharine for its own good". Hoffman enjoyed the song and wrote "the vibe is rangy and exultant [...] as blissful and bemused as the vehemently unpretentious [cover] shot of Lindstrøm."
Original release
iTunes bonus song (also available on Spotify
)
Special edition
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
artist Hans-Peter Lindstrøm
Hans-Peter Lindstrøm
Hans-Peter Lindstrøm is a Norwegian producer who works under the name Lindstrøm. He often collaborates with fellow producer Prins Thomas . Lindstrøm won a Spellemannsprisen in 2008 for Where You Go I Go Too...
. It was first released in the United Kingdom on August 18, 2008 and was subsequently released the next day in the United States. The album comprises three tracks, roughly 30, 10, and 15 minutes in length. Where You Go I Go Too is usually labeled "space disco
Space disco
Space disco is a term used to describe the fusion of disco music with futuristic themes, sounds and visuals, which was popular in the late 1970s...
" due to its "spacey
Space music
Space music, also called spacemusic, is an umbrella term, synonymous with a segment of New Age Music and Ambient Music, used to describe music that evokes a feeling of contemplative spaciousness. Space music can be found within a wide range of genres. It is particularly associated with ambient, New...
, psychedelic
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
" feel and four-to-the-floor beats.
Production of the album followed the 2006 release of It's a Feedelity Affair
It's a Feedelity Affair
It's a Feedelity Affair is a compilation of some of Lindstrøm's previous Feedelity 12" along with his latest single "The Contemporary Fix".-Track listing:#"Fast & Delirious" - 6:10#"Limitations" - 4:55#"Music " - 4:50...
, a compilation of singles. Lindstrøm had become dissatisfied with simply producing remixes and average length songs, which led to experimentation with lengthy tracks. The album received positive reviews from critics, who praised its slick production values and epic scope. At the 2009 Spellemannprisen
Spellemannprisen
Spellemannprisen is an award presented to Norwegian musicians for their contributions.-Operation:The award was established on the initiative of International Federation of the Phonographic Industry , an organization that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide...
award ceremony in Norway, the record won the award for "best electronica album".
Background and production
Following the release of It's a Feedelity AffairIt's a Feedelity Affair
It's a Feedelity Affair is a compilation of some of Lindstrøm's previous Feedelity 12" along with his latest single "The Contemporary Fix".-Track listing:#"Fast & Delirious" - 6:10#"Limitations" - 4:55#"Music " - 4:50...
in 2006, Lindstrøm had become tired of producing dance remixes
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
and average length vocal pieces. He began giving the artists and labels mixes with slower tempos. Lindstrøm also felt he was unwisely incorporating musical ideas into remixes instead of original works, which led to experiments with lengthier tracks for an original album. Four to five tracks were originally envisioned for Where You Go I Go Too, but only three were chosen.
The title track was a time-consuming project; Lindstrøm called it a "nightmare to finish." The song comprised over 70 layers of sound and spanned almost 30 minutes. Around half the sound consisted of live performances, which Lindstrøm found difficult to merge with the electronic portions. After changing the music, he would usually listen to the entire song and evaluate the change. The repeated listens took a toll: "I needed to listen to 30 minutes of music every time I did something," said Lindstrom "So I'll never gonna do it again." Despite this, he enjoyed working with extended songs because it allowed them to evolve and move at a slow pace.
The album mixing
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
was delayed during spring 2008. Typically, Lindstrøm would mix the record himself, but he felt overwhelmed by the album's scope and decided to seek outside help: "I’ve kind of discovered that I’m not good at doing everything myself. The problem with involving other people is that sometimes all the progress gets slowed down, but as long as the results are good, I’m happy... Leave the post-production to somebody else."
Though a common theme was not purposefully established for the album, some journalists noted similar feelings of travel and adventure when listening to the record. Lindstrøm has recommended people listen while traveling, and believes his travels may have influenced the album: "I don't particularly like traveling, but I've realised that it's perfect for listening to whole albums... I'm sure the way I'm listening to music now ... has something to do with the music I'm writing." The song titles were left "open" so "the listener could make up his own story."
Where You Go I Go Too was released by Smalltown Supersound
Smalltown Supersound
Smalltown Supersound is an independent record label based in Oslo, Norway, and dedicated to new forms of jazz, rock and electronic music.Their catalog features albums by Annie, Jaga Jazzist, 120 Days, Mental Overdrive, Bjørn Torske, Mats Gustafsson and Sonic Youth, amongst others.In 2004, the...
on August 18, 2008 in the United Kingdom, and August 19 in the United States. A special edition
Special edition
The terms special edition, limited edition and variants such as deluxe edition, collector's edition and others, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints or recorded music and films, but now including...
was issued on December 23, 2008. The album featured a bonus disc with edited versions of the original tracks by frequent Lindstrøm collaborator Prins Thomas
Prins Thomas
Thomas Moen Hermansen, recording under the name Prins Thomas, is a Norwegian record producer, best known for his collaboration with Hans-Peter Lindstrøm as Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas. Their music has been described as "space disco", and influences include krautrock, psychedelia and prog...
. Lindstrøm toured in Austria, Germany, Spain, and the United States that fall.
Musical style and influences
Where You Go I Go Too comprises three tracks, roughly 30, 10, and 15 minutes in duration, which seamlessly flow into each other in transitions that were described as "gradual and subtle". The songs grow and develop independent musical traits, such as motifsMotif (music)
In music, a motif or motive is a short musical idea, a salient recurring figure, musical fragment or succession of notes that has some special importance in or is characteristic of a composition....
, polyrhythm
Polyrhythm
Polyrhythm is the simultaneous sounding of two or more independent rhythms.Polyrhythm in general is a nonspecific term for the simultaneous occurrence of two or more conflicting rhythms, of which cross-rhythm is a specific and definable subset.—Novotney Polyrhythms can be distinguished from...
s, and melodies
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
. According to The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, some musical changes are pronounced, such as the introduction of a synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, while others, such as small tempo changes
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
, remain "almost insensible". Some critics have noted the album conjures the feeling of a journey.
The music is a collage of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
, characterized by synthesized melodies, layered sounds, live performance
Live performance
live performance may refer to:*A play or musical*A concert, a live performance before an audience*A dance performance, dance performed for an audience.*Live radio, radio broadcast without delay...
s, and four-to-the-floor beats. Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
editor Dominique Leone described it as a "seamless combination of digital production, analog synthesizers and live instrumentation." Lindstrøm has been heavily influenced by music from the 1970s
1970s in music
For music from a year in the 1970s, go to 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79This article includes an overview of the major events and trends in popular music in the 1970s....
and 1980s
1980s in music
For music from a year in the 1980s, go to 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89For a history of music in all times, see Timeline of musical events....
, particularly disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
progenitors Jean-Marc Cerrone
Cerrone
Marc Cerrone is a French disco drummer, singer-songwriter and record producer.Marc Cerrone has sold over thirty million albums and has often performed in front of hundreds of thousands of people at huge concerts and events such as The 2005 Dance Party Live in Versailles and The 2000 Los Angeles...
and Giorgio Moroder
Giorgio Moroder
Hansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
. Where You Go I Go Too is often classified as "space disco
Space disco
Space disco is a term used to describe the fusion of disco music with futuristic themes, sounds and visuals, which was popular in the late 1970s...
" due to these influences and because it possesses a "spacey
Space music
Space music, also called spacemusic, is an umbrella term, synonymous with a segment of New Age Music and Ambient Music, used to describe music that evokes a feeling of contemplative spaciousness. Space music can be found within a wide range of genres. It is particularly associated with ambient, New...
, psychedelic
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
" sound. Lindstrøm listened to the Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, the Eagles, and Kirsty MacColl
Kirsty MacColl
Kirsty Anna MacColl was an English singer-songwriter.MacColl scored several pop hits from the early 1980s to the early 1990s...
while writing the album.
Reception
Where You Go I Go Too debuted at #11 on the Norwegian music chart. The following week it fell to #27 before leaving the list. The record did not chart internationally. In 2009, Where You Go I Go Too received a SpellemannprisenSpellemannprisen
Spellemannprisen is an award presented to Norwegian musicians for their contributions.-Operation:The award was established on the initiative of International Federation of the Phonographic Industry , an organization that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide...
award for "best electronica album". The album was well received by critics and received an 82% on the aggregate website Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, which signifies "universal acclaim".
Allmusic writer K. Ross Hoffman declared the record an "entirely satisfying display" of Lindstrøm's talents and positively commented on the textured instrumentation. Hoffman concluded the music was an "expansive, exploratory journey" worth experiencing. Andy Battaglia of the The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
disagreed, believing the album to be narrow minded and a missed opportunity to exploit the lengthy tracks and deliver more musical depth. Praise was given by Alex Macpherson of The Guardian, who stated "Every aspect of the record seems tailor-made to produce maximum pleasure [...] Where You Go I Go Too would make even the most hellish of journeys seem like a first-class trip."
Jim Brackpool of Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
felt audience reactions would be polarized; some would find it "sophisticated and lovingly crafted", while others might be put off by its "unabashed opulence". No Ripcord
No Ripcord
No Ripcord is an online music and film magazine based in Sheffield, England.-History:The website was originally created in April 1999 by editor-in-chief David Coleman and A.M. Booth...
writer Sam Draper christened the record "one of the finest pieces of music [he had] heard in years." Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
editor Tim Finney believed Where You Go I Go Too showed signs of a masterpiece, but also possessed "bloat, excess, and splendor" reminiscent of disco revivalists. Pitchfork named it one of the best albums of 2008.
The album's title track was received favorably. Draper displayed particular fondness for the song and was amazed the music could stay fresh for its entire length. Hoffman also spoke highly of it, stating "[It] contains only as many discernible musical ideas as your average five- to seven-minute techno track [...] but its luxurious length lets those ideas stretch out gloriously [...] allowing a slow, fluid evolution that gestures towards a cosmic infinity." Finney praised the title track for its "shimmering, strobing synthesizer melodies" and ability to expand and surprise. A favorable comparison to Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
's similarly lengthy song "Autobahn
Autobahn (song)
"Autobahn" is a song by German electronic band Kraftwerk, composed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider of the band, with Emil Schult collaborating on the lyrics. It is co-produced by Conny Plank, and was the band's first track to use sung lyrics...
" was made by Jason Newman of URB.
Reviews of the other two tracks were generally positive. Brackpool wrote favorably about "Grand Ideas" and made comparisons to Vangelis
Vangelis
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...
and Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The band has undergone many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only continuous member...
, while Hoffman named it the most danceable track on the album. Though Battaglia felt the song kept repeating the same chord progression, he believed the "accents and shifts in pitch" strengthened it. Jeff Rovinelli writing for Tiny Mix Tapes
Tiny Mix Tapes
Tiny Mix Tapes is an online music and film webzine that focuses primarily on new music and related news. In addition to its reviews, it is noted for its subversive, political, and sometimes surreal news, as well as its mix tapes generator.-History:Originally called Tiny Mixtapes Gone to Heaven and...
thought "The Long Way Home" sounded silly. Brackpool agreed, writing "[If] isolated from the rest of the album [The Long Way Home] could easily pass for generic library music..." While Draper considered it a solid song, he decided it was a "little too saccharine for its own good". Hoffman enjoyed the song and wrote "the vibe is rangy and exultant [...] as blissful and bemused as the vehemently unpretentious [cover] shot of Lindstrøm."
Track listing
All songs written by Hans-Peter Lindstrøm except where noted.Original release
- "Where You Go I Go Too" – 28:58
- "Grand Ideas" – 10:10
- "The Long Way Home" – 15:58
iTunes bonus song (also available on Spotify
Spotify
Spotify is a Swedish-founded, UK-headquartered DRM-based music streaming service offering streaming of selected music from a range of major and independent record labels, including Sony, EMI, Warner Music Group, and Universal. Launched in October 2008 by Swedish startup Spotify AB, the service had...
)
- "Grand Ideas (Johan Agebjörn Remix)" - 6:49
Special edition
- "Where You Go I Go Too" – 28:58
- "Grand Ideas" – 10:10
- "The Long Way Home" – 15:58
- "Where You Go I Go Too Pt. 1 (Prins Thomas Edit)" - 13:05
- "Where You Go I Go Too Pt. 2 (Prins Thomas Edit)" - 8:37
- "Grand Ideas (Prins Thomas Radio Edit)" - 5:14
- "The Long Way Home (Prins Thomas Edit)" - 12:32
Personnel
- Hans-Peter LindstrømHans-Peter LindstrømHans-Peter Lindstrøm is a Norwegian producer who works under the name Lindstrøm. He often collaborates with fellow producer Prins Thomas . Lindstrøm won a Spellemannsprisen in 2008 for Where You Go I Go Too...
- writingWritingWriting is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...
, producingRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, performingMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - Knut Sævik - mixing
- Chris Sansom - masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
- Kim HiorthøyKim HiorthøyKim Hiorthøy is a Norwegian electronic musician, graphic designer, illustrator, filmmaker and writer.-Biography:Hiorthøy was born and raised in Trondheim, Norway, and studied at the Trondheim Academy of Fine Art as well as the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen...
- photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...